Digital-health organisations rely on extensive networks of software vendors, cloud providers and subcontracted service partners. While this interconnectivity enables innovation, it also creates one of the sector’s greatest vulnerabilities: supply-chain cyber risk...
Recent events across the UK industry have shown how fragile even the most established supply chains can be. A single supplier compromise can paralyse operations, a lesson digital-health leaders cannot afford to ignore.
In April 2025, Marks & Spencer (M&S) suffered a major cyber-attack that paused online orders for around six weeks and affected sales performance. Although the company has not confirmed the intrusion vector, reporting linked the incident to a sophisticated threat group and highlighted potential third-party involvement. The episode demonstrates how disruption at or through a partner can ripple across an entire business ecosystem.
Only months later, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) announced a cyber incident that halted production at UK plants and caused knock-on effects across thousands of suppliers. Operations were suspended into late September 2025 while investigations continued. The disruption showed how a single compromise can cascade through a digitally interconnected supplier network.
The parallels with digital health are clear. NHS suppliers operate within equally complex ecosystems that include electronic patient-record platforms, diagnostic applications, data-hosting partners and managed IT providers. A weak link, for example, a subcontractor managing cloud storage or an API integration, could jeopardise patient data and disrupt critical clinical systems.
Like M&S and JLR, digital-health companies must recognise that supply-chain resilience is no longer optional. It is a fundamental requirement for operational continuity and NHS compliance.
The NHS now places explicit emphasis on third-party assurance. Depending on scope and risk, suppliers may be required to demonstrate verifiable cybersecurity compliance before a contract is awarded or renewed.
Core expectations include:
Cyber Essentials or Cyber Essentials Plus (CE/CE+): Under Procurement Policy Note 014 (2025), contracting authorities are advised to consider requiring CE/CE+ where proportionate to the level of risk. NHS Supply Chain expects in-scope suppliers to demonstrate CE+ or an equivalent standard.
Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT): Required for organisations that process NHS data, aligning with UK GDPR and NHS Data Security Standards. The 2025–26 DSPT incorporates the Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF) and strengthened supply-chain controls.
Ongoing oversight: Evidence of risk assessments, incident-response plans and clear board-level accountability.
Failure to meet these expectations can lead to procurement delays or exclusion from NHS frameworks.
Digital-health organisations can minimise third-party risk by implementing a robust vendor assurance programme built on key components:
Supplier inventory: Maintain an accurate register of all suppliers and subcontractors, recording services delivered, data access levels and overall criticality to business operations.
Risk tiering: Classify suppliers based on the potential business impact of a compromise; higher-risk vendors should undergo enhanced evaluation.
Due diligence: Obtain up-to-date Cyber Essentials/Cyber Essentials Plus (CE/CE+) certifications, DSPT assessment status, security policies and results from independent testing.
Contractual controls: Integrate clauses addressing data protection, breach notification, audit rights and clear triggers for contract termination.
Continuous monitoring: Periodically review supplier risk using automated assessment tools or threat intelligence feeds to identify emerging risks.
A well-managed assurance process not only mitigates exposure but also fosters trust and credibility with NHS procurement teams.
To strengthen credibility and consistency, align supplier-risk management with recognised frameworks:
NCSC Supply-Chain Security Guidance: Practical principles for dependency management and assurance.
Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF): Relevant for NIS-regulated providers supporting essential health infrastructure.
DSPT and Cyber Essentials/CE+: Commonly required for NHS-linked suppliers.
ISO 27001: A robust benchmark for information-security management, particularly for software and data-hosting vendors.
These frameworks make supplier oversight measurable and demonstrate compliance during NHS procurement reviews.
Smaller digital-health firms can strengthen supplier assurance through practical measures:
Conduct a supply-chain cyber audit using platforms such as SecurityScorecard or OneTrust to identify high-risk vendors.
Adopt a supplier checklist aligned with DSPT and NCSC guidance, ensuring minimum controls across data handling, encryption and incident response.
Ensure internal compliance: Maintain CE/CE+ certification and a current DSPT submission to signal readiness for NHS partnerships.
Showcase assurance in tenders: Highlight supplier oversight, audit outcomes and resilience measures.
Collaborate and educate: Work with key vendors to close security gaps and strengthen collective defences.
The M&S and Jaguar Land Rover incidents show how one weak supplier can trigger disruption on a national scale. In digital health, where patient safety and clinical continuity depend on secure systems, the stakes are even higher.
By embedding vendor assurance into daily governance and aligning with NHS and NCSC frameworks, digital-health suppliers can turn compliance into a competitive advantage by proving to NHS buyers that security, trust and resilience are integral to their organisation.